Composition and method for treating hair



Patented Sept. 29, 1936 PATENT OFFICE $050,135 comrosmon AND m-z'rnon roa mum ' mesne iv. v.

Edward A. Butler, Bnfialo, N. 1.,

assignments, to La Fain, Inc" usirn y Buffalo,

No Drawing. Application November 18, 1935,

. Serial No. 50,475

3 Claims. (Cl. 167-47.!)

This invention relates to methods and compositions for treating hair, and particularly to a preparation to be used in connection with the formation of hair waves or curls of various types, such as permanent, marcel or finger waves. More specifically, it relates to liquid preparations which are adapted to be applied to hair to give it a plastic state so that waves and curls may be arranged therein, and then subjected to a drying process to fix the waves or curls in some degree of permanence.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved method and'preparation for this-purpose that is absolutely harmless and will produce an improved and more natural looking wave or curl, and to provide a preparation of such character that it will respond more readily to the action of heat and thereby dry more quickly than preparations heretofore used. Another object of the invention is to provide a preparation for this purpose that will dry more completely upon the application of vheat, leaving the hair absolutely gumless and greaseless when finished. The practice usual heretofore in producing hair waves has been either to twist or wind the hair about rods or heated irons and then to apply certain chemical preparations in the form of liquids or creams, and then to subject the mass to a drying operation while in that position; or, to saturate the hair with a gum or grease containing preparation and then to press the semiplastic mass of hair into the desired arrangement of waves and then subject it to heat in order to dry out as much as possible the liquid materials of the preparation. This leaves a semihardened composition in the hair which tends to hold the strands in the desired relative positions. Naturally, such procedures have given a great variety of degrees of satisfaction, depending upon the nature of the preparation used and the character of the hair in each instance.

The preparations which have been previously used for this purpose may be grouped into two general classes. One group comprises a type made from greasy or gummy base materials such as acacia, tragacanth, or karaya, which permit the operator to manipulate the hair en masse into the desired arrangement of waves and curls by using a comb and the fingers. The ease-with which waves may be worked into hair when this type of preparation is used sometimes makes it popular with the beauty parlor operator; however, it is impossi. le to thoroughly dry out such compositions and they inevitably leave the finished coiffure greasy or gummy in appearance and to touch. The eflects produced by such applications also appear artificial, and the presence of undried grease or gum in the finished hair is extremely distasteful to most people. Then too, these gummy residues subsequently rub loose and fall out of the hair in the form of small flakes or nodules which resemble dandrufi' in appearance, and are otherwise objectionable.

The second group of preparations which have been previously used for this purpose comprises solutions containing harsh chemicals which depend for their results upon the effect they have when in contact with albuminous materials such as hair. Materials such as alcohol and its derivatives, formaldehyde, ammonia, etc., have distinct hair stiffening characteristics but are extremely harmful because they depend for their wave setting action on their attack upon the very fibres of the hair, thus altering its natural life.

Besides making the hair brittle and producing waves that are unnatural looking, such solutions often tend to discolor the hair, and in other ways may cause permanent or temporary injury to the hair and scalp.

Because these previous preparations have been difiicult and slow to dry, powerful appliances heated by electricity or gas have been developed and the recipient of the simple finger wave for example, has been obliged to endure having her head encased by one of these hot helmets for a period of from 40 to minutes. The extreme discomfort and large amount of time consumed by these processes have been a real imposition on the users, and have been endured only because of the strict demands made by the styles of the day.

As the result of numerous and careful experiments I have discovered that hair can be most effectively treated for this purpose by means of a preparation which is in liquid form and adapted to deposit gelatin in a solid state upon drying.

Gelatin is readily soluble in water, but when in solution it is subject to deterioration and likely to become mouldy, and it is therefore desirable to add a preservative-ingredient, which may be in the form of sodium benzoate, salicyclic acid, or

some other such suitable material. I have found, however, that the presence of such an ingredient in the gelatin solution tends to precipitate the gelatin and to offset this it is necessary to add a small amount of acetic acid or some other active solvent which is capable of being dissipated through evaporation. I prefer to use acetic acid for this latter purpose because I have found that in addition to its solvent qualities it appears to effect the gelatin in such manner as to cause a closer adhesion, between the gelatin particles during the drying operation, thus producing a tough and durable, but transparent and highly glossy finished material.

To give the preparation a pleasing odor a small amount of benzaldehyde or some other harmless and suitable perfuming material may be added; and in order to give the preparation a pleasing appearance it may be slightly colored by a harmless coloring matter such as any of the aniline derivatives. To assist in the ready and thorough admixture of the various ingredients of the preparation it may be necessary to add a water softening compound, for which purpose I have found a simple potash compound to be very satisfactory.

In making my preparation, I prefer to use approximately the following formula:

Gelatin pounds 15 Water gallons 108 Acetic acid fluid unces 20 Aniline coloring material grams Benzaldehyde perfuming material fluid ounces 8 Sodium benzoate av. ounces" 40 Potash water softener av. ounces 6 .of the preparation may be prepared for convenience in shipping and to which water may subsequently be added to prepare it for use. For such purpose I use only 25 gallons of water in connection with the above formula, and the remaining 83 gallons is added later to prepare the standard solution.

When this preparation is applied to the hair and then dried a durable coating or cell of gelatin composition is formed about each strand of hair. Each strand is thus provided with its own individual sheath of dry but resilient gelatin which is transparent and highly glossy and enhancing to the appearance of the hair.

The greasy types of preparations appear to be useful in temporarily holding the hair in the desired shape during a heating process which is applied for the effect that it may have in setting" each strand of hair in its proper position. Some tendency to return to this desired position and shape after being disturbed therefrom is thus imparted to each strand of hair. My preparation and method appears to employ a distinctly new principle of operation in providing a transparent and resilient but durable and permanent sheath of gelatin composition material about each individual strand of hair. These casings, having been deposited and formed upon each strand of hair while the strands are positioned in the shapes desired for them, resiliently retain, and tend to return the strands to their desired shapes and positions if they are disturbed or deflected therefrom, without-depending upon any alteration of the natural life of the hair itself.

The preparation which I employ possesses the property of drying completely and much-morereadily than previous preparations that have been employed for this general purpose, and the user of my method and preparation is thereby enabled to attain a completely finished and absolutely dry coiifure by the application of only the usual degree of heat in from five to fifteen minutes time instead of from forty to sixty minutes as before. This substantial reduction of the amount of time consumed during the. drying process constitutes a great convenience to the user and avoids the harmful effects that the application of excessive and prolonged heat has upon the natural life of the hair.

The gelatin composition material which is thus formed about each strand of hair is durableand self sustaining despite its resilience, and readily withstands combing and rubbing of the character that takes place constantly between the strands of hair; thereby producing lasting results. My preparation is free from greases or gums and alcohol or other harsh chemicals, and therefore, my method does not produce the undesirable effeet of flaking, nor ten to dry out the scalp or make the hair brittle.

I do not limit myself to the particular proportions of the ingredients stated, since certain changes in carrying out the above principle and in the composition which imbodies the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, and it is intended that all of the matters contained in the above description are merely illustrative and not limiting of my invention.

I claim:

1. A preparation for use in waving hair which comprises the following ingredients in substantially the proportions of:

Gelatin pounds 15 Water gallons 108 Water softener av. ounces 6 Acetic acid fluid ounces 20 Aniline coloring material grams 5 Benzaldehyde perfuming r ria .te rial fluid ounces 8 Sodium benzoate av. ounces..- 40

2. A preparation for use in waving hair consisting of an aqueous solution of gelatin and a gelatin preservative and precipitation of the the preservative.

3. A preparation for use in waving hair comprising water, gelatin, a gelatin preservative, and a solvent for the gelatin adapted to prevent precipitation of gelatin out of solution in the presence of preservatives.

EDWARD A. BUTLER.

gelatin in the presence of acetic acid to prevent 

